Ancelotti Breaks Silence on Rodrygo's Real Madrid Struggles: "I Want Him Here" Despite Brazil Uncertainty
Carlo Ancelotti stated that he remains unconcerned about Rodrygo's limited playing time at Real Madrid, emphasizing his continued desire to include the winger in Brazil's national squad.
The Brazilian has only made two starts across all competitions this season, with his sole La Liga starting appearance occurring in August—accumulating merely 59 domestic minutes since that point.
During this week's lengthy Champions League journey to eastern Kazakhstan against Kairat Almaty, the situation remained unchanged, as he found himself behind Franco Mastantuono in the right-wing pecking order and received only 20 minutes of action.
Despite his challenging club circumstances, his international standing remains unaffected. Ancelotti, the coach who oversaw Rodrygo's finest campaign in 2023–24, continues to include him in his selections.
"[Rodrygo] may not be getting extensive minutes, but whenever he features, he performs admirably," Ancelotti explained to media after announcing Brazil's latest squad for upcoming fixtures against South Korea and Japan.
"His fitness levels are excellent and his enthusiasm for representing his country is evident.
"He represents a crucial asset for our national setup, possessing exceptional technical abilities and versatility across multiple positions. Therefore, I'm confident he can contribute significantly to our team.
"Rodrygo's qualities are well-established. While he's encountered challenges [at Real Madrid], he's successfully navigated through them. His physical preparation is outstanding, and I'm determined to have him with our squad."
Rodrygo: 'Madrid Remains My Home'
Throughout the summer transfer period, Rodrygo was consistently connected with potential moves elsewhere. Bayern Munich reportedly made a discreet inquiry through intermediaries, while Premier League clubs including Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur all showed interest.
The forward disclosed last month that the constant speculation and transfer rumors became a source of amusement, as he would playfully discuss with his family which new destination he was allegedly heading to each week.
In the end, the 24-year-old had no intention of departing, and Los Blancos were equally reluctant to part ways with him.
"I've grown accustomed to it; annually there are claims about my departure. Throughout the transfer period, weekly reports linked me to different clubs. I even made light of it with my family and friends, saying 'Look, today I'm supposedly joining this team, tomorrow it's another'. Each week brought new speculation, but as I mentioned, I maintained complete mental composure and it never bothered me," he explained following Madrid's Champions League victory over Marseille.
"I continued to enjoy my break, maintained my training regimen because I was certain this is where I would remain. Ultimately, I'm still home, in the exact place I've always aspired to be. I'll keep giving everything each time I put on this jersey. I train with dedication daily, patiently awaiting my chances."